Decking device for vehicles



Nov. 14, 1933.

A. COPONY DECKING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed May 18. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l mm zz,

ATTORNEY .7

Nov. 14, 1933. A. COPONY DECKING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed May 18. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n y/ l M QQ ATTORNEYj Patented Nov. '14, 1933 r This invention relates to automobilefdeckingl devices andmore especially to. vehicle deckingde- V attachment for use when vehicles- I -1,934, 4 1 pnoKlnd nnvlon FOR VEHICLES I Alfred Copony, MountClemens, Mich.) assignor to 7 I Oppbny'Autd'Loa'ding Company,

" a'corporation'of Michigan;

Detroihiltfli'ch',

"Application May 1 ,f1es1. ser l Nb. 538,284

vices adapted for use in freight cars and the; like.

'One ofthe primary objects of the invention is 5 to provide simple and-effective means whereby motor vehicles and the like may be held in freight cars, for instance, securely against-movement in all directions. i

Another objectof be readily connected. Other objects of the invention are to provide I decking means ofthisnature which.may.,be:ad-'

justed both longitudinally. of therstorage space;v and also vertically with respectithereto; *The in-' but can be folded outorpositionwhennotinuse, the structure, nevertheless; permitting the deck-, .removed fromtthefreight ear: if

desired.

Several objects,

of the inventionwill bepmadejmore. apparentsas-p this description proceeds, especially swhenicon sidered in connection with the accompanying drawings-wherein Figure 1 is a .perspective -.view: of. my: :improved vehicle'deck'ingmeans associated, for instance;t-r

= sidegof 'Figure 1, or the'typej bisupport-illus- I d ing means to be advantages and -novel l details witha freighteca'r, two'forms of'supportingmeans U being illustrated, respectivelyyat opposite sides of the 'vehicle;.- i

Figure 2' isan enlarged fragmentarysectional 1 elevational view taken substantiallyon the: plane; indicatedby-line'2-e-2'inFigure Figure 3 is a vertical sectionalelevationaleviewtaken substantiallyv on the plane-indicatedby line- 3-'3 inFigu.re- 2;

,Figure 4 is a plan view-of element or loop;

Figure 5 is an enlargedfragmentarysectional elevational view taken substantially on' the plane indicatedby line 5-5:' in-Figure 1;.11.; k

Figure .6 is a detail sectional vievm -taken siib stantially ontheplane indicated by, lin= 6, 6 in; I

- 7 h longitudinally extensible by re he Figure v5;

stantially on the plane'indicated by 1inei-77 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is asectional elevational view through,

aportion of the'freight' car showing one of the decking devices folded and supported in inopera.-

' tive position;

Figure 9 is a'sectional elevational,view lshowing another slightl and y modified form of deckingdevice,

the invention is to provide a .j decking device to which the vehicle wheels can about; a longitudinal axis.

the *wheel engaging j g V 15 are ivotally connected to these trunnions 14 by being: journaled thereon. The fork-shaped Figure 10 is a sectional elevational, view through one'of theilwheel engaging members showing an having wheels of smaller sizearedecked. r v

Fromg Figure lxit will be noted that there is diagrammatically illustrated -a. fragment of 2. a freight car, or the like having a top or roof strucxf ture l0, sides 11, andafioor' 12. It is generally customary to half deck the vehicles, that is; to secure the axle atone end of a vehicle in'a-raised position, spacediromthefioonas is well known in this art.

Primarily my invention contemplates-the use of wheel engaging elements 13, one adapted-to elements being illustrated in plan view in Figure engage each wheel, one of these wheel engaging 4. Thesewheel engaging elements l3.are each Each of the wheel engaging elements or loops;

13 is adapted to besupported in such a. manner as to permit the-same toberocked about a sub- 7 s'tantially horizontally 'arranged'axis )Forthis purpose I provide either-the type of supportingmeans illustrated at the left hand trated at thejright hand side of Figure 1,- or anypermit *ajrocking of-the wheel engagingqloop ,As shown inFigure l, .for instance, theloop engaging element is provided withtrunnionsin the form of stub-shafts or projections 14 atthe opposite ends thereof and as shownat-the left 1 preferred gor-idesired type of, support which will of Figure 1, the ends of a fork'shaped member member 15 is provided=.with fa rod like extensionlfitelescoping within a tubular member 17 which is secured,i for instance, to the roof 10 of'the freightfcan The supporting element 16:17. is

scopic connection between themembers '16 and 1 1'1 and when adjusted to theproper length may.

be secured in place by inserting apin'18 through I any one of..a. plurality of apertures 19in the sleeve. 1'7 which registerwith openings (no shown) formed in the rod member-.16.

. Attached to the end of each trunnion mem s no, I

connected to the roof-of the freight can tends to indicate that the specific form of sup-- porting means for the wheel engaging loop-may semi-universal connection so as to permit of an gular disposition of the supports 20. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, I have shown the trunnions 14 as being provided with semi-spherical or ball-shaped ends 21 with which sockets 22 carried by the ends of the supports 20 are engaged. In accordance with myinvention I prefer to connect the ends of the. sup.- porting arms to the freight car roof and floor by means which permit of longitudinal adjustmentand which also permit of the supporting arms being disconnected from the. roof. and floor when desired.

In Figures 5, 6 and '7, I have illustrated one form of anchoring means for thesupporting. arms.

bracket 23 in which a member 24 ispivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis. This member 24' is provided with a pair of opposed trunnions 25 with which the bifurcated end of the support 20 is pivotally connected.

This provides for a substantial-universal-movement between the support 20 and the member 23. Obviously the support may be'either one of the upwardly-or downwardly extending arms; 'Both the floor and roof of the caris formed with longitudinally extending I-beams 26 and the shoes" 1 or brackets 23 are adjustably secured thereto-by means of clips 27 which are secured in place by' clamping bolts 28 passed through the opposed clips and through the shoes 23. To longitudinally adjust the shoes 23 with respect;- to the I beams 26, the bolts 28-will be loosened and whenmay be done by disconnecting the anchorage means at the floor whereupon thedeckingdevice; can be swung to the position: illustrated in Figure 8. r r

At the right hand side of Figure 1, the sup-' porting means for the wheel engaging l'oopl3 i'ssubstantially the reverse of that illustrated at the left hand side of Figure 1. "Thatis, the fork-shaped member 15 constitutes a portioir of the downwardly extending support whereas the supporting members ZO eXte'nd' upwardly" and are This be varied found desirable or expedient."

In connecting the decking'd'evices to the ve-- hicle's the Wheels are inserted in the wheel en gaging-loops 13 as illustrateddnFi'gures- 1, 2' and P will be'ofsufii'cient widtlr also-for this: purpose" but will preferably be slightly wider to permit of a rocking oftheloopfor apurpose t'ofbelater referred to. a a

If vehiclesare to be decked having whe'slstoo small for the wheel engaging loops- 13; these wheels may be accommodated by" chuck blocksor inserts 31' as illustrated in Figure 10; associated with. one or. both endsof? the loop to decrease the longitudinal length of theopening.

- engagementwith the wheel as shown in full lines None longitudinal side of the loop as, for instance, by means of a bracket 33, the other end of the chain being passed around the axle of the vehicle and secured in a. slot 34 in the bracket. Obviously, other means may be employed for securing the: wheel. engaging loop in its rocked position but the described means is a practical one.

By rocking the wheel engaging loop 13 the Wheel is firmly engaged on opposite sides thereof and this prevents relative. lateral movement of the wheel and consequently the vehicle; Longitudinal. movement is prevented by the engage ment of: thewheel. with: the ends of'the loop and relative vertical movement. is prevented by the chain.32. which as described, is passed. over the axle and thus. acts to hold. the vehiclev wheel firmly down in engagement with the wheel engaging loop.

As willbe: notedrfrom Figure 1, the. position of. the supporting arms provides. for' triangular bracing. of the wheel engaging loops with respect to .the vertical: sides 1].: of the freight car. and the divergingn'relation. of the: pair of supporting members '20 effects. a bracing longitudinally of the car.

As will be seen from Figure 9, my improved decking. device may be employed as a hold-down devise for vehicles which are supported. withtheir wheels: upon the. floor or other support. In this figure the wheel engaging loop 35 has a substantially universal. connection36 at its ends with supporting arms 37 which: are anchored as at 38"to: the floor support 39; The anchorages 38 may beof substantially the same'construction as illustrated in'Figures 5 to 7 inclusive, previously referred. to; In this form of construction the anchorage means 38 will be loosened to permit the loop 35 to be disposedupon the fiooring'39 assuggest'edl in dotted lineswhereupon the ve- 125 hicle may be driven over the hold-down device and the whelposition over the loop 35, whereuponthe' anchorage: means 38may be moved toward one another to thus raise the loop 35 into whereupon"the-anchorages are. fixed in place and the loop is rocked by means of thechain 39 in the same manner as heretofore explained. In this form of construction the wheel will rest upon the floor 39' or' may be supported just slightly thereabovej 1 Obvious modifications willsuggest themselves to those skilled in this art and to this end reservation: is' made to' make such changes as may come within the purview of the accompanying 3 claims. I

What I claim as-my invention is:

1. In a decking device, a wheel engaging member; means for pivotally supp'ortingsaid member, and means for tilting said: member to bite'the wheel between spaced portions of said member and for holding said member in this position;

2'. In a vehicle deckingdevice for'freight cars and the like-,-a wheel engaging member, means for pivotally supporting said member, and means 35, pivota1ly supporting said loop, and means for-securing v said-loop int-engagement with the wheel of"theyvehicle bylrocking' thesame about its 1 and the like, a wheel encircling member, up-- wardly anddownwardly extending supporting for tilting said-member to "laterally grip the wheel-and'for holding said member. in this positionLf *3; A' decking wheel supporting member liaving portions engaging the periphery of the wheel, and portions adapted to be zn'oved into'eng'agement with the sides of the wheels to gripthe same;

' 4. A decking device for 'v'e'hicles "including; a wheel' supporting member having portions enf' gaging the periphery of the'wheel,.-and portions adapted to be moved-into engagement with the sides oi the wheel by a rockingmovement of saidmember.

device for: vehicles including, a l

14-. In a vehicle decking device for freight cars andthe like, awheel e'ngaging member, means for pivotally supporting said wheel engaging 55A decking device;for-vehicles including, a

rigid wheel supporting member having portions initially engagingthe periphery of the wheel and portions adapted for-engagement with the sides of the wheel upon a relative'tilting movement of saidmembe r'. 7 V t "6, A decking device"'for vehicles including, a

rigid-wheel receiving member having opposed-endportions initially engaging "the periphery of the Wheel, and spaced opposed side portions adapted iorbiting engagement with the sides of the wheel upon a relative tilting movement of said member; j

'7. In a decking device for vehicles, a wheel engaging loop, means for supporting said-loop sition.

8. In a decking device for vehicles, a wheelengaging loopl adapted to encircle "the wheel and pivots and fixing the same rocked position.

9. In a decking device for vehicles, a wheel encircling member, means for rockably supporting said member, and meansfor securing said -m"en'1be'r i'n rocked position for ri'gid' engagement with= thewheel.-- 5

loopshaped member adapted to support a vehicle wheel'b'y 'engagement' with the periphery there- =]oe'r'-in this position-to effect an engagement of the samdwith'the sides 0f the wheel.

member includin'gsupporting arms piv'otally connected I thereto, longitudinally extending guideways secured to the top and bottom of the freight car," anchorageaneans mounted in said guideways, means for p'ivotally connecting the 'ends of said supporting" arms to said anchorage means; and means for disengaging the anchorage means from the lower guideways to permit a folding of" said; decking device to 'aposition'adjacent the top ofthe freight car} l5; The-combination with a freight car or the like, of a cradl'e' for engaging and supporting the 1 tire of a vehicle wheel in the car in an elevated position, and thrust members movably connected" to the cradle, extending downwardly in diverg 1 ingrelation and having their lower ends connectedto'a lower part ofthe car, one of the last mentioned connections being adjustable relative to the car to permit'moving 'suchlower endsof supportingar m's respectively to the top-and bottom of 'th'e'freigntcar, and means 'for tilting said wheel-engagingmemberfabout its supports and foi' securing said-member in this position, for 1 "the-purpose set forth. r

the members'with respect to each other, thereby enabling changing the angle; of divergence between such members and the elevation of thecradle. a 1 I 16; 'The combination with a freight car or the like, of 'a-vehicle'in the car, means for engag- }ing and supporting'the tire on alwheel of the veengage'the periphery of the latterfm'eansior hicle, in an elevated position, thrust members movably connected at their upper'ends to said a means and extending downwardly in diverging relation; means for pivotally connecting the low-' er end'of each thrust member to'a lower part o'f the car, and rneans for adjusting each pivotal pointlongitudinally'ofthecar. Y i i -17.*A' device for supporting a vehicle in ie- -1O. A "-decking device for vehicles including, a

tion' of-a tire on the vehicle, and cradle supporting'rodspivotally connectedto the cradle for'pivll. A decking device for-vehicles'including, a

loop shaped member adapted to support a ve hiclewheel' by engag'ement with the periphery part of a vehicleinrelevated position in the car, rigid membersmovably connected at one end to thereof, means "for rockably supportingsaid member, and means for'rocking and securing said memb'er inthis position-to effect anengagement of the same withthe sid'es of the'wlieel, includ ing afleigible member connectedto-saidlo0pshaped-member and passed around the axle of the vehicle, said member acting'to hold said wheel against relative vertical displacement.

12. In a decking device of the class described, "a wheel engaging member, supporting armspivotally connected to said member, means for adjustably connecting the ends oi said arms to a fixedsupport, and means for tilting'said wheel engaging member tocause the same to engage the sidesof the wheel and'for holding said wheel engaging member in this position. a 1

13. In a vehicle decking device for freight cars arms pivotally connected to said wheel engaging member, means for adjustably securing said otalmovement-lengthwise of the car, and means for adjustably connecting'theopposite ends of the supporting rods to apart of the car for supporting the cradle in elevated position.

18. The combination'with a freight'car or the" like, of tire embracing means for supporting a said'meansand extending in substantially ver tical planes and'in diverging relation, and means 1 connecting the other ends of the members to the -sand at'leasti one end adjustablyfthereto so that'the angle of divergence may be changed;

and theelevation of the suppgrting means thus the device and'to a part of the car, and means connecting the device to the wheel axle intere mediate the wheelsthereon. 21. The combination with a freight car, of

longitudinally adjustable thrust members pivotally connected to a lower part of the car, and extending upwardly therefrom in converging relation to one another, meanson said members for supporting a vehicle, and means connected to an upper part of the car and operatively connected to the vehicle for partially suspending the vehicle. 22. The combination with -a freight car, of a.

pair of downwardly divergingthrust means adjustably connected to a lower part'of the car for supporting a vehicle in a variable elevated position, and suspension means connected to an upperpart ofthe car and operatively connected to the vehicle, for modifying the thrust load by suspension of the vehicle.

23. The combination with a freight car or the like, of thrust members diverging downwardly,

tire engaging means movably connecting the upper ends of the thrust members, and for supporting a part of the vehicle in the car in elevated position, means for movably connecting the lower ends of the thrust members to lower parts of the car, and means for varying the relative positions of said last connections longitudinally of the car, thereby to vary theangle of divergence between such members and the elevation of the vehicle supporting means.

24. The, combination witha freight car or the like, tire engaging means for supporting a part of a vehicle in the car, downwardly diverging thrust rods pivotally connected to a lower part of the car and to the-first mentioned means for supporting the tire and a wheel of the vehicle in elevated position, and means operatively connected to. such engaging means and extending laterally for connection with the car for additionally supporting the vehicle. 1

25. The .combination with a freight car or the like, of thrust rods diverging downwardly toward a side wall of the car, means for adjustably connecting the lower ends of the rods to a lower part of the car so that the longitudinal space between such lower ends may be varied and hence the angle of divergence varied, and tire engaging means pivotally connecting the upper ends of the and adapted to support a part of the vehicle in' the car in elevated position, and means operatively connected to the upper ends of the rods and. to an upper part of the car for additionally supporting the vehicle.

per, and opposite sides of thejcar.

27. The combination with a freight car or the like, of thrust rods extending upwardly and inwardly, in converging relation, from a lower part of thecar, means adjustably connecting the lower ends of the, rods to'a lower part of the car so that they may be spaced variable distances longitudinally of the car, and hence the angle of convergence of the-rods varied, tire engaging means pivotally connecting the upper ends of members pivoted to a lower part of the -car,

means connected to upper parts of said members for supporting a part of a vehicle in elevated position, and connections operativelyconnected to the vehicle and to upper parts of. the car for additionally supporting the vehicle.

29. The combination with a freight car or the like, of a pair of thrust rods at each side of the car and having their lower ends adjustably connected to lower parts of the car, said rods of each pair converging upwardly and being, in,- clined toward thecenter of the car, vehicle supporting means at the upper ends of the rods, and means operatively connecting the vehicle to up- 30. The combination with a freight car, of a pair of thrust rods at each side of the car and having their lower ends pivoted to lower parts of the car, said rods of each pair converging upwardly and being inclined toward the center of the car, vehicle supporting means at the upper ends of the rods, and means operatively connecting the vehicle to upper and opposite sides of the car.

31. The combination with a freight car or the lla like, of a tire engaging device for supporting. a

part of a vehicle in the car in elevated position,

rigid members connected at one endtothe device and swingable in substantially vertical planes, means for connecting the lower ends of said members to lower parts of the car in such manner that such ends may be spaced variable dis- 12 tances, and a member connecting said device to. an upper part of the car.

32. The combination with a freight car or the like, of a device for engaging and supporting a vehicle wheelin the car, in elevated position, a rigid member connected to the device and to a lower part of-the car, and means connecting such device-to the wheel axle and to an upper part of the car. r

. ALFRED COPONY. 

